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For more details about the Ignite Excellence Foundation, visit www.igniteexcellencefoundation.org .

Ignite Excellence Foundation

"The biggest problem in Africa today is not AIDS, poverty, disease, education, or urbanization; the biggest problem is LEADERSHIP. When moral leaders with integrity and justice arise, then Africa's problems will be solved", said Dr. Douglas Carew, Vice Chancellor of the Africa International University.

Suzanne F. Stevens, President & Founder of Ignite Excellence, was among a group of business women who heard this message when she spent two months working with women leaders in Nairobi, Kenya, in January 2007.

In addition to being affected by the harsh realities of life in Africa, Suzanne heard the cry from many of the leaders of tomorrow - The Africa International University students. They needed to learn how to develop influential presentation skills to raise funds and influence positive change. Over the past few years, Suzanne has been to Kenya on extended visits to empower students and leaders. She shares the skills required to influence leaders, communities, students, and the government in order to elevate their communities, country, and continent.

Suzanne has coached many Masters and PhD students to raise both awareness and funds for a variety of initiatives. The initiatives close to their hearts included:

• Teaching people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo how to farm
• Getting commercial sex workers off the streets
• Bringing other leaders to their schools
• Improving the school system
• Feeding their families nutritiously
• Educating orphans
• Lobbying to build homes
• Taking responsibility for Africa and its actions
• Creating awareness of injustices
• Eliminating political up-rising

Mrs. Lucia Atoyebi of Nigeria

Mrs. Lucia Atoyebi is studying for a Master of Arts Degree in Education. She is married to Peter, and a mother of four grown children. Lucia and Peter have come to Kenya after working for 14 years in Cameroon. During that time, they started schools, established local churches, started programs for women in prisons, developed a program to meet monthly with wives to encourage them, and developed an inter-denominational program for women. Lucia, who has an undergraduate degree in education, has worked tirelessly for many years to enable and empower women in their local context. “When women are well equipped, there is nothing that can stop us.”  - Lucia Atoyebi

Mrs. Mary Nthamari Odhiambo of Kenya

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Testimonial Letter

In February 2007, Suzanne Stevens of Ignite Excellence, traveled to Nairobi, Kenya with a group of Canadian executives. As part of Suzanne's gift toward leadership development in Africa, Suzanne did a presentation to the student community and leaders at our Masters level college. It was impressive to the faculty how quickly Suzanne was able to identify many cultural nuances, pick up on them and uses them for powerful persuasion and effective communication.

The students still talk today about that event over a year ago. Some of them feel their skills in persuasive communication have been enhanced forever. I know that Suzanne has received notes of thanks from many of them. The word on campus is, "When will Suzanne Stevens come back and do that again for those of us who weren't there?"

We have often had guest lecturers and speakers visit our international college from all over the world. The unique thing about Suzanne was her innate ability to quickly identify how a particular community works, figure out how to craft communication to be effective in that context and then show students how to use those skills.

We were privileged to have Suzanne with us.

Sincerely,

Lois Shaw
International Institutional Development - Kenya

For more details about the Ignite Excellence Foundation, visit www.igniteexcellencefoundation.org .